Religion 211: Judaism and Islam
Dr. Fred Kellogg
Emory & Henry College
Spring 2009
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Religion 211: Judaism and Islam |
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UNIT 1: FOUNDATIONS OF JUDAISM
In the first unit, we’ll study some great Jewish rabbis such as Hillel and Akiba, as well as the development of Mishnah, Talmud, and Midrash. We’ll look at the work of Maimonides and Sefardic Judaism, followed by Ashkenasic Judaism, the Hasidim, and the strange story of Sabbatai Zevi. We’ll conclude with comparisons of the three major “denominations” in American Judaism today. During this unit, you will read the first five chapters in Michener’s The Source: “The Tell” through “Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird.”
Introduction (Thu Jan 15)
Rabbinic Judaism: Trepp 22-35, 260-275 (Tue Jan 20 – Thu Jan 22)
Medieval Judaism: Trepp 63-74, 84-99 (Tue Jan 27 – Thu Jan 29)
Review and discussion of Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism: Trepp 114-119, 135-149 (Tue Feb 3)
4 Log 1 due on either of these two chapters from The Source:
“An Old Man and His God”
“Psalm of the Hoopoe Bird”
Test 1 – including the first five chapters in Michener; no map (Thu Feb 5)
Review program: www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/211u1.htm
In this unit we’ll explore Jewish beliefs about God, sin, and forgiveness. We’ll study daily worship in Orthodox synagogues, as well as festivals such as Passover, the High Holy Days, and Hanukkah. We will look at religious ceremonies at crucial turning points throughout life. Then we’ll review the story of the birth of modern Israel. During this unit you’ll read the next five chapters in Michener: “The Voice of Gomer” through “The Law.”
Basic beliefs: Trepp 276-291 (Tue Feb 10)
Worship: Trepp 323-339, 344-349 (Thu Feb 12)
[Winter Forum – no classes Tue Feb 17]
The Jewish calendar, life cycle, and family: Trepp 340-343, 350-393 (Thu Feb 19 – Tue Feb 24)
Review and discussion of the Holocaust, Zionism, Israel and Palestine: Trepp 157-185 (Thu Feb 26)
4 Log 2 due on either of these two chapters from The Source:
“Yigal and His Three Generals”
“The Law”
Test 2, including the next five chapters in Michener and a map of Judaism (Tue Mar 3)
Review program: www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/211u2.htm
UNIT 3: FOUNDATIONS OF ISLAM
The third unit will begin with cultural backgrounds of the world into which Muhammad was born. We’ll study thoroughly the life of Muhammad and the revelations in Mecca and Medina that brought about the religion of Islam. We’ll see how that religion spread throughout Arabia and much of the world, including America. During this unit you will read four Michener chapters: “A Day in the Life of a Desert Rider” through “The Saintly Men of Safed.” You will also read two chapters from the Qur’an: “The ‘Imrans” (Surah 3) and “Women” (Surah 4).
Pre-Islamic Arabia: Denny 29-41 (Thu Mar 5)
[Spring break Mon Mar 9 – Fri Mar 13]
Muhammad: Denny 47-70 (Tue Mar 17 – Thu Mar 19)
Lectures by Phillip Sherman, 8:15 p.m., Board of Visitors Lounge
“Babylon Is Flat: The Tower of Babel in the 21st Century” (Sun Mar 22)
“The Ladder of Jacob and the Promise of Particularity” (Mon Mar 23)
Islamic history: Denny 72-93 (Tue Mar 24 and Tue Mar 31)
[Charter Day – no 11 o’clock classes Thu Mar 26]
Review and discussion of Islam in America: Denny 350-360 (Thu Apr 2)
4 Log 3 due on one of the following sections from The Source or the Qur’an:
“A Day in the Life of a Desert Rider” (The Source)
“The ‘Imrans” (Qur’an, Surah 3:1-117)
“Women” (Qur’an, Surah 4:1-35)
Test 3 – including the next four chapters in Michener and two chapters from the Qur’an; no map (Tue Apr 7)
Review program: www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/211u3.htm
UNIT 4: MODERN ISLAM
The final unit will give us an opportunity to study the Five Pillars and other central beliefs and practices in Islam. We’ll have a special focus on the Qur’an. As with Judaism, we’ll see the religious significance of each stage of life. In the final section, we’ll see how Islam has developed in the time of great empires and in modern nations such as Turkey and Iran. During this unit you will finish the Michener novel, from “Twilight of an Empire” to “The Tell.” You will also read two chapters from the Qur’an: “Cattle” (Surah 6) and “The Heights” (Surah 7).
Basic beliefs and worship practices: Denny 97-126 (Thu Apr 9)
The Qur’an: Denny 128-162 (Tue Apr 14 – Tue Apr 21)
The Islamic life cycle and the family: Denny 263-286 (Thu Apr 23)
Islam and the modern world: Denny 318-321, 328-338 (Tue Apr 28)
Review and discussion of Islam after 9/11: Denny 363-369 (Thu Apr 30)
4 Log 4 due on one of the following sections from The Source or the Qur’an:
“Twilight of an Empire” (The Source)
“Cattle” (Qur’an, Surah 6:1-87)
“The Heights” (Qur’an, Surah 7:1-53)
Final deadline for turning in any written work
Final exam – including the last three chapters in Michener and two chapters from the Qur’an
(1) map of Islam, (2) short-answer questions over the whole course,
(3) an essay question on unit 4, and (4) a comprehensive essay question.
Review program: www.ehcweb.ehc.edu/faculty/fkellogg/211u4.htm
Note: tests and exams are not given early. If you have a last-minute emergency or hospitalization, we’ll arrange for you to receive an Incomplete in the class and take a makeup exam at a later time. In all other cases, plan to take the exam at the scheduled time.
TEXTBOOKS
Trepp, Leo. Judaism: Development and Life. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 2000.
Michener, James A. The Source. New York: Fawcett Crest, 1976.
Denny, Frederick M. An Introduction to Islam. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2006.
The Koran. Trans. N. J. Dawood. 5th ed. New York: Penguin, 1990. Be sure to get this particular translation and edition of the Koran, not any of the others in print.
& Please bring your Trepp textbook to class each day during the first and second units, so that you can easily relate information from the lectures and discussions to appropriate sections of the readings. You don’t need to bring Michener’s novel or a Bible with you each day, but you should have a convenient Bible for looking up references when you’re studying the course material. Y
& Please bring your Qur’an and your Denny textbook to class each day during the third and fourth units. Z
In the very rare circumstance that the college is on a Delayed Opening schedule, announced on area radio and TV stations, this class and all other 11 o’clock Tuesday-Thursday classes will meet from 11:40 to 12:25.
You will develop an understanding of the historical foundations of Judaism and Islam.
You will explore the rituals, scriptures, and ethical guidelines of both religions.
You will compare and contrast the religious teachings and ethical principles in Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism, and in Sunni and Shi`ite Islam.
You will learn about the interactions of Judaism and Islam with other religious traditions, such as Christianity.
You will locate on maps a number of key places in Jewish and Islamic religious history and know why each place is significant.
You will refine your understanding of Judaism and Islam by reading a supplementary book and selections from the Qur’an, and by reflecting on main ideas in each book.
You will develop your ability to express your interpretations and reflections on ideas in the supplementary readings in clear and grammatically correct writing.
You will have the opportunity to relate what you have been learning in this class to experiences outside class, further developing your understanding of Judaism and Islam.
LOGS
Short writing assignments will give you opportunities to reflect on ideas which you encounter. These “logs” will also give you ways to express your reflections in writing. These papers will be based on assigned readings from James Michener’s historical-archeological novel about Israel and selections from the Qur’an. You will write three logs: log 1, plus your choice of any two of the other logs: logs 2 and 3, or logs 2 and 4, or logs 3 and 4. Here are the guidelines for your logs:
1. At the top of the first page, put your name; then give a brief summary in your own words (about ½ page long) of a specific section identified in the schedule above: a chapter from The Source or a portion of a Surah in the Qur’an. Identify your chosen passage – Michener’s chapter title, or the Surah number and verses from the Qur’an.
2. At the end of your summary, identify in your own words the main point of the chapter or passage – not a topic such as faith or love, but an idea that you will discuss in your paper. So that I can recognize your main point, please begin with this: “The main point that I will deal with in this chapter is that . . .” For example:
The main point that I will deal with in this chapter is that eating bees can give a person a powerful religious experience.
3. Next, write a few paragraphs interpreting the chapter in light of Jewish or Muslim beliefs and practices, including information that you’ve learned from the class sessions, the textbook, and other sections of the Qur’an or The Source. Do not use other sources, such as the Internet.
Use few if any quotations; your paper should be in your own words. You don’t need documentation or a bibliography. But if you would like to refer to a specific insight or brief quotation from one of your sources, please use simple parenthetical documentation: put the last name of the author and the page number in parentheses. For example:
“God is One and Only, beyond and above sexual differences.” (Trepp 394)
If you refer to a Qur’an passage, don’t put the page number. Instead, give the Surah number (identified by S.) and approximate verse number(s). Your translation of the Qur’an doesn’t have all of the exact verse numbers, so give your best estimate of the verse number(s). For example:
“When Jesus son of Mary said to the disciples: ‘Who will come with me to the help of God?’ the disciples replied: ‘We are God’s helpers.’” (S. 61:14)
4. Finally, write one or more paragraphs in response to the question, “What does this chapter mean to you?” Share how it relates to your own life experiences, or reflect on how the chapter addresses real-life concerns and situations of people today, especially Jews and Muslims living in America or the Middle East. Don’t just use vague generalizations; give specific examples of how the chapter helps you to understand God and other people.
5. Please do not evaluate the book! Your assignment is not to show that either book is wonderful or contradictory, right or wrong. Instead, share your insights into the chapter. You will naturally agree or disagree with the way that the book advocates the main point that you have chosen to discuss, and you may offer alternative insights or approaches – after you have given a fair, clear treatment of the way that the issue is presented in the reading and in Judaism or Islam.
6. Your log should not be emailed but printed neatly with your computer set for double spacing (to give me plenty of room for comments and suggestions), a 12-point font, and one-inch margins. It must be at least 500 words long. An excellent (A) paper will normally be significantly longer than the bare minimum of 500 words.
7. Backup, backup, backup! < Save each draft of your paper on a flash drive, so that it’s not lost if your computer crashes. L On your final draft put a new date, so you don’t confuse it with your first draft.
8. Fold the pages together lengthwise (unstapled), and put your name on the outside. Whether or not you remember to write “Pledged,” I expect the paper to be entirely your own work, using appropriate sources as described in these guidelines.
9. I'll return your first draft promptly, together with a checklist and suggestions to help you improve your paper. I’ll keep your final draft for evaluation of your group of three logs – or, in rare cases, I’ll keep your first draft if it is so good that it doesn’t need to be rewritten. If you choose log 4 as one of your three logs, since it is due on the last day of class, you will submit only one draft of that log. The evaluation of your three papers will count as 1/5 of your course grade.
STUDY METHODS
You'll understand Judaism and Islam best if you spend a couple of hours in study for every class session. I recommend that before class you study the assigned readings. Soon after the class session, review your class notes and put them in a clear form. Reread sections from the textbook or the Qur’an that relate to your notes. Write the date at the beginning of each day’s notes; that way you can refer to them easily when studying for tests. In the years ahead, you’ll remember the information that you’ve learned day by day much better than what you’ve crammed the night before a test.
Even though you won’t write logs on all sections of The Source, you need to read the book in its entirety because of its relevance to the course. Many of the insights in The Source have stood the test of time, even though the situation in the Middle East has changed significantly since Michener wrote the novel. The Qur’an is at the very heart of Islam, so you will also be responsible for studying carefully Surahs 3 through 7 and any Qur’an passages to which I refer in the class lectures. I will include questions from The Source and the Qur’an on the tests.
Before each test, go through the computer review of the unit. Type into your Web browser either the address for the individual review or for my Home Page, which has links to all the review programs. Type the numerals carefully: for example, 211u1 stands for Religion 211, unit 1. You will have three tests, one over each unit. I will count only the best two and drop your lowest test grade. If you miss a test for any reason, I’ll count that as your lowest grade and drop it. Since I have this very generous policy of counting only the highest two of the three test grades, please don’t ask me to give a makeup test for you before or after the scheduled test time; a makeup test would take hours for me to develop. Instead, if you miss a test, plan on dropping that grade.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
Base grade. For a good base grade: come to class faithfully, remain alert, and take careful notes on the lectures. If your cell phone rings during class time, I’ll lower your base grade by 1 point for each such disruption of the class. If my cell phone rings during class time, I’ll raise everyone’s base grade by 1 point for each such disruption of the class. I keep my watch set to the correct time, and I am careful to begin and end my classes on time. If you often come late to class or begin packing your books and notebooks before I have ended the session, your base grade will be lowered for such disruptions of the class.
Discussion. I hope that you will participate actively in discussion, expressing your understandings of Judaism and Islam which will help the rest of us. When I'm lecturing, if I go too fast or introduce a name or term that you don't know, stop me and ask about it. Share your own insights into issues that I am describing. Help me to build a lively group dynamic! I’ll be disappointed if I have to do all the talking in class; part of the fun of this course is the interaction we have with each other in struggling with key issues! Come by my office any time and talk with me about anything in your study of religion that interests you or challenges your own religious understandings, or email me with any questions or reflections.
Attendance. During your college years, by responsible class attendance you can establish a reputation for reliability that will help your professors to write good reference letters for jobs or programs of graduate study. I value faithful attendance highly, as an indication of your commitment to the course goals. An unexcused absence, or an absence beyond a total of four for any reason, will reduce your class participation grade by 5 points.
But I don’t want you to come to class when you’re sick, for your own sake and for the sake of your fellow students. You may request that up to three absences be excused for appropriate reasons such as sickness, college-sponsored trips or athletic events, or dangerous driving conditions because of severe weather. Right after any absence, please email me, giving the reason that you missed class if you would like me to consider excusing the absence.
You may request that one absence be counted as a personal absence, with no need to give me an explanation, no makeup work required, and no penalty. Reasons for a personal absence include such things as finishing a test in another class, attending a wedding, helping a friend, participating in a workshop or seminar related to your major, going home to take care of a family matter, or climbing Mount Sinai or Mount Arafat. Email me or write me a note if you want to count the missed class as your one personal absence.
Extra credit. Here are a few opportunities to boost your class participation grade.
1. During the semester we may have lyceum programs which help you to see some relationships to what you’ve been studying about Judaism or Islam. I especially encourage you to attend Phillip Sherman’s lectures and the Winter Forum.
2. If you’re involved in a community service project this semester, you may reflect on how it relates to a specific story or teaching from Judaism or Islam that you’ve studied in this course.
3. You may visit a mosque or synagogue during this semester.
4. You may watch a full-length video relevant to Judaism or Islam. (Watching a TV program would not earn extra credit.) You may view it any time in the semester, not only when we’re studying that particular topic. I recommend from our library collection any of these:
Fiddler on the Roof [Tevye and traditional Judaism in Russia, video PN1997.F5]
The Message [essentials of Islam, video PN1997.M47 1998]
Mosque [Muslim worship practices in Cairo, video BP16.2.M67 1992]
Muslims [Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, America, DVD DS3.9.M87 2003]
Yentl [Barbra Streisand as a student devoted to the Talmud, video PN1997.Y35]
For extra credit, write a paragraph summarizing the program or video (including the date that you attended the program or watched the video) and relating it to what you’ve been learning about Judaism or Islam in this course. Turn in your paper or email it to me within a week or so, while it is still fresh on your mind. One acceptable paper will add 5 points, or two will add 10 points to your base grade, up to a maximum class participation grade of 95.
EVALUATION
Your signature on any test or paper means that in accordance with the Honor Code which you signed when you enrolled at Emory & Henry, your work is entirely your own, you have not looked at anyone else’s test or paper, and you have used only the sources identified in the guidelines – not the Internet or other unapproved sources. Your pledge your personal honor that this is true. The final deadline for submission of any written work, such as extra credit papers, is the last day of class. My grading scale is A = 95 (90‑99); B = 85 (80‑89); C = 75 (70‑79); D = 65 (60‑69); F = 50 (0-59). Here’s how I’ll calculate your course average:
2/5: the best two grades from tests 1, 2, and 3. I’ll drop your lowest test grade. If you miss a test for any reason, I’ll count that as your lowest grade and drop it; you won’t need to take a makeup test.
1/5: final exam
1/5: the quality and timeliness of your three logs
1/5: class participation, including any extra credit
The Middle East is the mother of many of the world's deepest religious insights and most beautiful ceremonies. I look forward to sharing with you in studying these traditions and in seeing their relevance to us today!
Fred Kellogg
A good collection of information and texts from Judaism and Islam has been
compiled by David Wiley. There
is an excellent Web site
on the Islamic Foundation of
America. I've also found excellent information on Judaism
in general, Reform Judaism, Orthodox
Judaism, and the Torah.
If you wish, you can send me e-mail: fkellogg@ehc.edu
To look at one of my other syllabi, go to my Home Page.
To review a unit in the course, go directly to one of the following:
Unit 1, Foundations of Judaism
Unit 2, Modern Judaism
Unit 3, Foundations of Islam
Unit 4, Modern Islam
If you prefer, you may return to the Emory & Henry College Home Page.
Last updated: December 30, 2008